A NUNEATON historian is calling for residents in the borough to have a second chance to vote for a London-style elected mayor - claiming the first consultation was unfair.

Peter Lee, a specialist in the social and economic history of Nuneaton, has slammed the borough council for not sending out enough questionnaires to both towns asking for people?s views on the radical idea.

Mr Lee has sent a letter to Stephen Byers, secretary of state for transport, local government and the regions, highlighting the need for a second consultation which will give a larger percentage of the borough?s population a chance to get involved.

But deputy leader of the council Cllr John Glass (Lab, Bedworth Heath) said the authority has followed government guidelines throughout the process.

In March of this year, 7,000 questionnaires were sent out to homes in the borough. Just 1,362 people responded, opting out of voting in an elected mayor, as happened last year in London.

Mr Lee said: ?The consultation process was inadequate. Out of an electorate of 90,950 only 1.5 per cent responded. The questionnaires that went out were selective whereas they could have been issued to every household within the borough had they been delivered with the free weekly newspaper.

?Therefore I request that the consultation exercise be carried out and that a much larger percentage of the electorate be allowed to take part, endeavouring to reach as many of the 90,950 as possible.?

People in the borough had to choose one of three options for restructuring the council - a council leader and cabinet, an elected mayor and cabinet, or an elected mayor and council manager.

The cabinet and leader option - modelled on the way the prime minister is elected - has been chosen because just over half the people who responded wanted it.

Cllr Glass believes the system worked well and said: ?We had public meetings, sent out questionnaires and consulted with the people?s panel.?